New Zealand vs Belgium

New Zealand are one of 8 teams to have made zero changes to their starting XI between their first two matches (level with Colombia, DR Congo, Egypt, Germany, Norway, Senegal and Sweden) — and have used just 17 distinct players overall, the joint-second-fewest of any team, level with DR Congo, England, Panama and Saudi Arabia.

New Zealand have won none of their last 8 World Cup matches, going 0W-4D-4L with 7 goals scored and 19 goals conceded. A repeat in their next match would be their longest such run in World Cup history.

New Zealand have conceded in each of their last 12 fixtures (including friendlies), going 1W-2D-9L with 10 goals scored and 23 goals conceded.

New Zealand travel about 389 km from Vancouver to Vancouver for this match, with no time-zone change.

New Zealand are one of 11 teams to have made no changes to their starting XI between their last two matches at this World Cup.

Belgium are unbeaten in their 6 fixtures (including friendlies) played in 2026 (3W-3D-0L).

Belgium have won none of their last 4 World Cup matches, going 0W-3D-1L with 1 goal scored and 3 goals conceded.

Belgium have scored just 2 goals in their last five World Cup matches, after netting 8 goals in the five before that.

Belgium travel about 1,740 km from Los Angeles to Vancouver for this match, with no time-zone change.

New Zealand and Belgium have never met at a FIFA World Cup. This will be their first World Cup encounter.

New Zealand and Belgium have never met at a World Cup before — this is their first meeting.